New Lit on the Block :: Midwest Weird
The editors of Midwest Weird hope their audience will be drawn by a certain level of morbid curiosity that will make them say, “Oooh, that show is so weird…and I can’t stop listening!”
A new audio literary magazine, Midwest Weird publishes fiction and nonfiction in podcast form with new episodes released every other week during their season, and transcripts posted on their website.
Why Midwest and Why Weird
Editor Amy Lee Lillard explains the name and mission, “The Midwest is a strange place. When you’re known mostly as flyover country, it breeds that strangeness. We want to celebrate the work that might not find a home elsewhere, and the writers that may often be overlooked. Our editors created the Broads and Books podcast in 2019, and additional podcasts since. We are bringing the beauty and intimacy of podcasts to the literary magazine world.”
Joining Editor Amy Lee Lillard, author of three books and creator of Wyrd Woman audio drama, is Editor Erin Johnston, co-creator with Amy of Broads and Books Productions, and co-host of Fuzzy Memories Podcast. The two of them manage the submissions, with both reading every contribution that comes in and typically responding within a month; due to volume of submission, they do not provide feedback.
What’s Weird?
In terms of what they are looking for when it comes to weird, they note, “It could be the style. The content. The genre. It could be you.” The editors encourage writers “to check out past episodes to get a sense of the weird we like. If you think it’s weird, your work may fit with us.”
The editors look for weird work from writers based in the Midwest. “We’re especially looking for work from writers who are women or nonbinary, part of the LGBTQ, BIPOC, and disabled communities, and/or other underrepresented writers. We’re also looking for writers who are excited about creating audio versions of their work. Midwest Weird is expanding the notion of a literary magazine, and what creators of today can do.”
For writers whose original or previously published works (1-4k words) are accepted for production, their stories can be read and produced by the Midwest Weird team, or authors can take the lead in the recording. Midwest Weird also interviews some of their contributors for special bonus episodes.
For Listeners of Weird
For listeners looking to be transfixed by a fun, new podcast, Lillard says, “Every story has a different element of weird! We use music and the author’s voice to enhance and draw out that weirdness. You’ll go to the SPAM Museum for a twisted weekend and take a drug test that is eerily specific. You’ll find a new friend in a refrigerator and get lost hunting mushrooms. You’ll get caught in a dizzying afterlife and escape devout terrors. It’s a new vision of weird every time.”
Recent contributors include Graham Marema, Russell Brakefield, Keira Perkins, Jessica Klimesh, Sam Sharp, Jane Lovell, Maxine Firehammer, Kip Knott, Aarushi Bahadur, and Heath Smith.
Reflecting on the start-up experience, Lillard shares, “We’ve seen how eager writers are for something new! And how many Midwestern writers are looking to find a home for their unique sensibilities and experiences.”
Midwest Weird has just wrapped up their first season of podcasts and will be ready to start some new weird with Season 2 in February 2025.
